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Taking a position-by-position look at the SEC’s most important game this season, here’s what to watch for in Saturday’s showdown between top-ranked and unbeaten Mississippi State and one-loss Alabama:
QUARTERBACK — Mississippi State: The SEC’s last remaining Heisman contender is Dak Prescott, a player capable of keeping the Bulldogs in the game by himself against a team Mississippi State hasn’t beaten in six years. Prescott’s passing efficiency has dropped considerably since the first half of the season, but his running prowess is sure to cause headaches for the SEC’s top-rated unit against the rush. In the opposite huddle, Blake Sims will test the Bulldogs’ secondary deep, a vulnerable spot in the middle of Geoff Collins’ defense.
RUNNING BACK — Mississippi State: Josh Robinson’s taken the SEC by storm Alabama’s backfield depth suffered a devastating blow earlier this season when Kenyan Drake went down with a broken leg in October. T.J. Yeldon’s battled through hamstring problems early and now has a sprained ankle to deal with suffered in the fourth quarter of last week’s win over LSU. Nick Saban said the Crimson Tide’s leading rusher will play against the Bulldogs. Derrick Henry could see the bulk of the carries, however.
WIDE RECEIVERS, TIGHT END — Alabama: While the Bulldogs have an impressive collection of talent inside and outside with Jameon Lewis and De’Runnya Wilson, the Crimson Tide’s arsenal is more potent. Amari Cooper, one of college football’s brightest offensive players this season, has caught 18 more passes than his nearest competitor in the SEC and is second only to Colorado State’s Rashard Higgins in receiving yardage. He’s already broken Alabama single-season records for receptions (79), yards (1,215) and is one end zone trip away from tying his own touchdown record (11) set in 2012. Cooper’s a matchup nightmare for Mississippi State and should receive the bulk of the targets in Lane Kiffin’s passing game.
OFFENSIVE LINE — Push: Mississippi State’s given up 16 sacks this season, but has done a great job blowing opposing teams off the ball in ground game situations. The Bulldogs have scored 27 red zone touchdowns in 39 trips and much of that has to do with their strength in the trenches. Forced to use five different starting lineups up front due to injuries this season, Alabama’s oft-dominant offensive line has struggled at times, but has kept Sims upright for the most part thanks to his ability to avoid pressure. Despite a lingering ankle issue, freshman Cam Robinson’s expected to start at left tackle. Austin Shepherd will start at the other tackle spot.
DEFENSIVE LINE — Mississippi State: Ranked sixth nationally and first in the SEC in total sacks (32.0), the Bulldogs’ top personnel group on defense is, without question, their front four. Anchored by Preston Smith who has improved his draft stock as a senior with a team-best seven sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss, Mississippi State hasn’t allowed a running back to surpass 100 yards all season. The only player to do so was Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall who hit the century mark on Oct. 11. The last 100-yard rusher against Alabama was Tre Mason in last year’s Iron Bowl.
LINEBACKERS — Alabama: Reggie Ragland, not Trey DePriest, has been the leader of the Crimson Tide’s group of hungry linebackers, a unit that tackles well and limited LSU to just 3.3 yards per carry last week. Projected early-round pick Benardrick McKinney has posted a team-leading 55 tackles for Mississippi State.
SECONDARY — Alabama: Landon Collins is the best player defensive player for either team and looks to make a tremendous impact on the outcome of Saturday’s game with his ball-hawking skills from his safety post. Collins has two interceptions and seven pass deflections this season to go along with 61 tackles. Junior cornerback Cyrus Jones has improved down the stretch and likely gets the task of defending Wilson on the outside. Mississippi State’s secondary ranks at the bottom of the SEC giving up 300.6 yards per game.
